“Where are we?” one of them asks, sniffling.
“I don’t know.” I’m still not fully awake and everything is a little fuzzy because of the pain.
Then it all comes back to me.
The ambush. Fighting. Shooting. Masked men pulling Landon out of the SUV and tasing him repeatedly. I don’t know how he could survive that much electricity flooding his body. If they didn’t shoot him, he probably had a heart attack.
And he’s dead.
Just like he said he would be if I was ever captured.
Tears well in my eyes and I try not to cry, but the thought of losing him is far worse than my current situation. I may or may not get rescued, but if he’s dead, there will be no recovering for me. I will never get over that loss.
If they got you, that means I’m already dead…
I hear his voice in my mind and sobs wrack my body.
I know Rage and my father will burn down the city to find me, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Without Landon, I’m not sure I have the will or the strength to fight.
It’s over.
And this time I’ll do whatever I have to so that they kill me.
They can rape and beat and punish me, but I’ll push the envelope until I’m dead. Fuck them and fuck this.
Anger momentarily replaces the pain and I breathe in and out a few times.
“You have to be strong,” someone whispers.
Just because I’m ready to die doesn’t mean the others have to.
“My father will come for me,” I croak. “And I’ll make sure they get you too.”
Someone murmurs in Spanish. My Spanish isn’t fluent but she thanks me and then says something about their mothers being whores.
That tracks.
I totally agree with her.
Then there’s a clicking sound, like a door being unlocked, and footsteps.
That’s when I see him.
Pete.
Pete!
I’m momentarily relieved, thinking my father must be right behind him, until he starts talking.
“Why does she still have clothes on?” he yells. “I want to see my merchandise!”
Merchandise?
I feel another surge of anger as reality crashes down on me.
Pete.
Of course.
